Okay my question is this. If a sexual thought pops in your head but you brush it off is this mortal sin? Or if you start to entertain it the realize it’s sin then brush it off. Is this sin? It seems pretty easy to commit mortal sin and I would like to receive communion daily. But I can’t do this if I commit a mortal sin until Saturday because that’s when I would be able to go to confession.

It’s not a mortal sin if it pops into your head and you brush it off…in fact, you are strengthening in virtue by being able to face temptation and beat it by the act of the will.

We get these little horrible things in our minds from time to time because of us engaging in them or things similar to them in the past, and also we are sexual beings with a tendency towards sin AND …because of the demonic is able to also place these things before us in our minds.

Completely normal for a fallen creature to have them come to them in their minds…unfortunately.

But as the Easter seasons shows…Jesus has turned our bad situation into good! We still live in a world of sin…BUT…when we overcome these little things, we get strong, we build up the body of Christ, we aid in our redemption AND we give glory to God!

No, it’s not a sin so long as we use an act of the will to not engage in them once we recognize the temptation.

Lastly, almost any priest (so long as they are not busy at the moment) will hear your confession when you ask them ANY day of the week…and if one won’t just call a parish and ask another.

LennyFL said** : " Okay my question is this. If a sexual thought pops in your head but you brush it off is this mortal sin?"**
This Mortal Sin thing is greatly misunderstood, and it leaves just about everyone Confused (including me).
But, MichaelHowling said it Truly : "It’s not a mortal sin if it pops into your head and you brush it off…in fact, you are strengthening in virtue, by being able to face temptation and beat it, by the act of the will.

Technically, there are a few actions which ARE Mortal Sins, by direction of the Pope,
so if you want to Abort a fetus, you are about ready to commit a Mortal Sin.

If a rape victim

contemplates having an Abortion, and

EVEN if she contacts an Abortion Clinic, and

makes an Appointment for that murder, and then

drives to the Clinic, expecting to have an Abortion, but

quickly changes her mind, and leaves … and has her Baby,

it is NOT a Mortal Sin (at least not according to Church Law).

This example shows that a mere thinking about Sinning (even about performing a Mortal Sin), is NOT a Mortal Sin.
However, actually performing that Act is a Mortal Sin.
In a way, it is a Near Occasion of Sin (except, that it might be a Venial Sin to do that planning).

Then LennyFL said** : “Or if you start to entertain it, then realize it’s sin, then brush it off. Is this sin?”**
As seen my example, entertaining the idea of committing a Sinful action, CAN be a Venial Sin … or else, NO Sin at all.
And, as you know, a person CAN receive Communion at Daily Mass, with 500 Venial Sins racked up.
Near the beginning of EVERY Mass service, we all say a Prayer, which will “forgive” us of all our Venial Sins.
So, this prevents a Parishioner from worrying about some Venial Sins … because you have been Wiped Clean.

Then Lenny said** : “It seems pretty easy to commit mortal sin and I would like to receive communion daily.”**
As you see, it is a little Harder to Commit a Mortal Sin than you thought.

And finally : "But I can’t do this. If I commit a mortal sin [before] Saturday, because that’s when I would be able to go to Confession."
This is a separate Issue.
I have mentioned in other Threads about this Problem.
If you happen to Commit a Mortal Sin, say Sunday Night, then at that point, you are not allowed to receive Communion.
But, come Monday morning, if you are going to Daily Mass anyway, you can arrive early, and go to the Sacristy and tell your Priest that you’ve got a FAT Mortal Sin.
Then, your Priest will probably hear your Confession before the Mass starts.
At the very least, he will hear your Confession after the service.

I attend Daily Mass, and this occurs at least once a week, at my Church.
And, one New Year’s Day (a big day for people to attend Daily Mass), 5 people “lined up” early, before the Mass, to confess Mortal Sins they committed a few hours before (at their New Year’s Eve “celebration”).
I remember that day pretty well, because the Mass began about 5 minutes late.

But, if you worship at a LARGE Church (and the Priests are, somehow, not able to hear it right away), just call another Church, and ask for an appointment for a Confession. Most Priests take it VERY Seriously, that a person is going to Daily Mass, and will give you PRIME attention to cleaning up your Soul.

I read the topic line and thought about brief and my mind put an “s” to the end of the word!
Then came the next word “sexual”. Then I went back to the first word “having”
Needless to say I am on the phone to the Bishop now and all I get is being put on hold listening to organ music. Then I start thinking of organ and juxtapose it with being “on hold”… Is Catholic Answers an occasion of sin?

1641 At adoration during the Forty-Hours’ Devotion, the Lord said to me, My daughter, write that involuntary offenses of souls do not hinder My love for them or prevent Me from uniting Myself with them. But voluntary offenses, even the smallest, obstruct My graces, and I cannot lavish My gifts on such souls.

This example shows that a mere thinking about Sinning (even about performing a Mortal Sin), is NOT a Mortal Sin.
However, actually performing that Act is a Mortal Sin.
In a way, it is a Near Occasion of Sin (except, that it might be a Venial Sin to do that planning).

Jesus said that to think lustfully about a woman is to commit adultery with her in the heart and the Decalogue lists coveting goods or spouses as sin so clearly some thoughts ARE mortal sin.

To the OP, thoughts that come unbidden and are banished as quickly as they come are not mortal sins. Seriously entertaining them, that is, turning them over and over in your mind so as to enjoy them and following and developing the thoughts into a sexual fantasy, now that can be mortal sin. Thoughts that fall between these two extremes can be mortal or venial, depending upon their severity, your awareness of their sinful or potentially sinful nature, and your willingness to participate. Only you know how far your thoughts went and how aware and willing you were at the time.

Technically, there are a few actions which ARE Mortal Sins, by direction of the Pope,
so if you want to Abort a fetus, you are about ready to commit a Mortal Sin.

If a rape victim

contemplates having an Abortion, and

EVEN if she contacts an Abortion Clinic, and

makes an Appointment for that murder, and then

drives to the Clinic, expecting to have an Abortion, but

quickly changes her mind, and leaves … and has her Baby,

it is NOT a Mortal Sin (at least not according to Church Law).

This example shows that a mere thinking about Sinning (even about performing a Mortal Sin), is NOT a Mortal Sin.
However, actually performing that Act is a Mortal Sin.
In a way, it is a Near Occasion of Sin (except, that it might be a Venial Sin to do that planning).**

I have not read the rest of the post -but it is important to note that such is NOT per se correct.

Mortal sin can happen long before any action. What is described above --already includes mortal sin (long before arriving at the clinic) - if there was the needed knowledge and complete consent.

If I with full knowledge and deliberate consent decide to such and such grave matter --mortal sin has already happened. It will be worse if I do not repent and stop it from going into action -but mortal sin can already take place in thoughts and desires.

It is incorrect to say also “Technically, there are a few actions which ARE Mortal Sins, by direction of the Pope”.

Okay my question is this. If a sexual thought pops in your head but you brush it off is this mortal sin?

All sorts of thoughts can happen to us out of the blue…

The fact that a though happened to one- does not mean per se there was any sin.

And for mortal sin one needs not only grave matter, but full knowledge and deliberate (complete) consent…

And they might keep tempting one - and keep returning - but their persistence or attraction does not mean one has sinned. (And for mortal sin one needs to give complete consent.).

Now…

For the next few moments --try real hard NOT to think of Apple.

then scroll down.

What did you think of?

An apple.

Even though your will was against it -you did not want to think of an apple.

Now back to unwanted thoughts…

The best thing to do with such thoughts is not to fight them directly --not fear that they will come…do not consent and simply and calmly turn to something else…(or it may be best to keep doing the good thing one is doing…like they come out of the blue when your at work …keep working …etc)

Ignore such unwanted thoughts like one would ignore a hissing goose or a barking dog. One does not stop to argue with a hissing goose or a barking dog does one? No one keeps on walking…and at most laughs at them…

(as noted above the image there comes from a Carthusian Monk from centuries ago…)

Okay my question is this. If a sexual thought pops in your head but you brush it off is this mortal sin? Or if you start to entertain it the realize it’s sin then brush it off. Is this sin? It seems pretty easy to commit mortal sin and I would like to receive communion daily. But I can’t do this if I commit a mortal sin until Saturday because that’s when I would be able to go to confession.

Mortal sin requires intent. If a sexual thought unintentionally pops in your head and you brush it off, it cannot be a mortal sin.

Mary Ellen said** : "Jesus said that to think lustfully about a woman is to commit adultery with her in the heart and the Decalogue lists coveting goods or spouses as sin so clearly some thoughts ARE mortal sin. "**

Well, of course that is NOT a True statement … but it is a Venial Sin of adultery … NOT a Mortal Sin.
Several Priests have given Homilies on this VERY point.

Bookcat said** : "I have not read the rest of the post -but it is important to note that such is NOT per se correct.
Mortal sin can happen long before any action. What is described above --already includes mortal sin (long before arriving at the clinic) - if there was the needed knowledge and complete consent.**

Uh HUH.
Well, I would appreciate it if you will Cite an Authority to your Judgment here.

I ask this because I think you are FLAT Wrong.
It may make some sort of sense to think that, but that isn’t the same as being correct in a matter of Catholic Doctrine about the very nature of a Sin.

Edit.
Bookcat also said, : "It is incorrect to say also “Technically, there are a few actions which ARE Mortal Sins, by direction of the Pope”. "

I have NO idea why you have said this.
There are MANY Mortal Sins which are clearly spelled-out in Official Church documents.

Then, there are Mortal Sins which are NOT spelled out as such in Official Church documents.
If you disagree, then please respond with your reasoning.

To the OP, thoughts that come unbidden and are banished as quickly as they come are not mortal sins. Seriously entertaining them, that is, turning them over and over in your mind so as to enjoy them and following and developing the thoughts into a sexual fantasy, now that can be mortal sin. Thoughts that fall between these two extremes can be mortal or venial, depending upon their severity, your awareness of their sinful or potentially sinful nature, and your willingness to participate. Only you know how far your thoughts went and how aware and willing you were at the time.

This^

OP, this isn’t the first time you’ve asked about mortal sin. Here are the there are three elements to a mortal sin:

One: grievous matter
Two: sufficient reflection,
Three: full consent of the will

Was it grievous matter? Yes, it was pornographic.

Were you aware it was a sin? Yes.

Did you fully consent to the thoughts? No, you brushed them away and didn’t encourage them.